Liquid dispensing device



May 1, 1962 c. w, GARRISON LIQUID DIsPENsING DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1959 y x \\%N H11/,T7 Wl I\ i 00N \N www ww MN w%\ I. @Il NN NN m1\ Hl 5%?. w r In@ I awww@ Il RN U Nl\ |f\ III NN w. w\ r u United States Patent O 3,032,005 LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Clair W. Garrison, San Jose, Calif., assignor to International Minerals & Chemical Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 787,995 1 Claim. (Cl. 118-2) The present invention relates to the dispensing of liquids, and more particularly to the dispensing of liquids in a precisely controlled manner.

It is desirable in many technical fields, particularly in the large-scale preparation of packaged foods, to be able to dispense a liquid into a container in a precisely controlled and regulated manner. in the packaging of meat in sealed cans, for example, it is conventional to spray lard over the interior surface of the can in order to prevent the meat from sticking thereto. In the packaging of canned soups, it is desirable to introduce a controlled quantity of monosodiurn glutamate solution into the cans just before they are sealed to improve the flavor thereof. Similarly, in the preparation of fresh vegetables for freezing, it is desirable to add a regulated quantity of monosodium glutamate to each package before it is closed and frozen to maintain the color and to improve the flavor thereof. In the packaging of orange juice and other food materials which are deleteriously affected by the oxidizing action of air, it is desirable to add a quantity of an aqueous solution of a reducing agent such as ascorbic acid or isoascorbic acid to minimize the effect of air in the head space of the container. l

Por dispensing liquids in such cases, the art has devised a number of types of apparatus, all of which are either quite complex in construction or open to objection in one respect or another. The problems associated therewith arise in two areas-viz., the accurate measurement of the quantity of material dispensed, and the prevention of overilling in case of interference with the normal operation of the apparatus.

In one commercially available device, called the Flocron, a continuous spray of liquid is maintained, the spray being intercepted by a deector at al1 times except when it is desired to discharge the spray into a food container. Precise measurement of liquid volume is readily achieved by the Flocron, but the device is complex, and the liquid is constantly exposed in iinely divided condition to contact with air, so that the avoidance of oxidation is a problem in some cases and the maintenance of sterility in all cases.

The problem of overiilling is the concern ot Mero U.S. Pat. 2,453,527 (November 9, 1948). The Mero device was designed to dispense lard into cans moving on a conveyor belt. Each can, as it passes under the spray head, actuates a lever, which closes a switch and thereby opens a solenoid valve in the spray head, permitting the lard to flow therefrom,y The llow continues until the passing of the can is completed, releasing the switch lever, opening the switch, and closing the valve. Owing to the switching arrangement employed, the dispensing of the lard continues so long as the switch remains closed. Hence, if the conveyor belt stops at any time, it is possible for the v can to become overiilled and in fact to overflow. Mero attacked this problem by providing an auxiliary `device which is also set in operation by the can-operated switch, and which, after a predetermined time interval, opens a second switch in the solenoid valve circuit, thereby closing the valve and preventing overilling.

The present invention is a comparatively simple device which permits dispensing a precisely measured amount of liquid into a container moving on a conveyor belt, while 3,@32l05 Patented May l, 1962 ICC minimizing contact of the liquid with air and avoiding any possibility of dispensing more than the desired amount.

One object of the invention is to dispense a liquid in precisely regulated amounts.

Another object is to dispense a liquid at a precisely regulated place and time, and in a precisely measured quantity.

Another object is to avoid overfilling in the dispensing of a liquid.

yAnother object is to dispense a liquid while minimizing contact thereof with air.

Other objects of the invention and its advantages over the prior art will be apparent from the following description.

In accordance with the invention, the desired liquid is stored in a suitable tank under a substantially constant elevated pressure of air or other gas, preferably an inert gas such as nitrogen, from which it is forced by the gas pressure through a solenoid valve to a spray head or other type of distributor nozzle, positioned over theconveyor belt. Each container, as it moves on the conveyor belt into position under the spray head, moves a lever to actuate a switch, which sets a control device into operation. The control device, which includes an interval timer, first opens the solenoid valve, permitting the liquid to flow therethrough, simultaneously begins to measure a predetermined time interval, and then closes the valve at the end of the predetermined interval. The desired quantity of liquid is thus discharged into the container. At the same time, the control device renders the container-operated switch inoperable (i.e., incapable of aifecting the sequence ofiperations or of initiating a new sequence of operations) until after the entire sequence of operations has been completed and until the said switch has been released by the container thereafter. Thus, the discharge is initiated, timed, and cut off automatically by the control device alone, without reliance upon the operation of any other portion of the equipment, and overfilling is thereby completely avoided.

The attached drawing is an isometric view of a typical example of the present invention, installed for operation in connection with a conveyor belt.

The primary components of the device include a storage tank 11 for the liquid to be dispensed, a solenoid valve 12, a spray nozzle 13, a mounting bracket assembly 14, a switch l5 with actuating lever 16, and a control cabinet i7 containing a timing device. The entire device is mounted upon and used in association with a typical conveyor-belt assembly 18, including belt 19, which carries open packages 2t) from left to right under the spray nozzle for treatment with the desired quantity of liquid.

The storage tank 11 is a vessel large enough to accommodate an adequate supply of the liquid, and is constructed of suitable materials to withstand the pressure employed and to resist any chemical action by the liquid therein. In a typical example, the tank is made of 20- gauge stainless steel, and is 18 inches in diameter and 30 inches high. The tank may be supported by legs, if desired, equipped with wheels for convenience in rolling it from one place to another (these details being omitted from the drawing). l-t is convenient also to include a drain plug at the bottom of the tank to facilitate cleaning. T he top of the tank includes handles 20a, a safety filling cap 21, a pressure release valve 22, a pressure gage 23, and quickcoupled fittings 24 for attachment of suitable tubes to an air source and to the solenoid valve. Air or other gas from any convenient source is supplied to the tank under a pressure ordinarily around l() to 20 pounds per square inch. It should desirably be supplied through a filter, a pressure-regulating valve, and a shut-olf valve, not shown, in order to insure constant pressure (a Vital element in precise control of the volume of liquid dispensed), and to insure complete cleanliness.

The liquid, 25, contained in the tank is forced out by the superimposedV pressure through a pipe 26 extending nearly to the bottom of the tank, and ows through a suitable pipe or tube 27 through solenoid valve 12 to spray nozzle 13. The solenoid valve is normally closed. Beneath the spray nozzle 13 moves a series of open packages (cans, cardboard cartons, or the like) on conveyor belt 19. As each package comes fully under the spray pattern, it moves lever 16, which closes switch 15, thereby completing an electrical circuit which actuates a control unit of commercially available design, comprising an electronic interval timer and associated switching devices, contained in cabinet 17. The control unit, immediately upon being actuated, completes the circuit to solenoid valve 12, opening the valve and permitting the liquid to ow from spray nozzle 13 into the container situated below the nozzle. Simultaneously, the control unit closes a hold circuit to render switch 15 inoperable until after the full program of operations has been completed and until switch 15 has thereafter been released by the package. At the same time, the timer begins to measure a time interval of predetermined length, so chosen as to allow precisely the desired quantity or liquid to be discharged from the spray nozzle, at the end of which the timer closes solenoid valve 12 and terminates the ow of liquid. The package meanwhile continues its passage under spray nozzle 13, eventually moving out from under the nozzle and releasing lever 16. The unit is then ready to be set into operation by the next package approaching on the conveyor belt.

The switch 1S and the mounting bracket assembly 14 are attached .to the side of the conveyor belt assembly in any convenient manner. The control cabinet 17 is conveniently supported upon an electrical jupling `box 28, which is in turn Vattached to the mounting bracket assembly 14. Appropriate electrical connections are made via coupling unit 28 to the solenoid valve 12, switch 15, the interval timer in the control cabinet 17, and to an external source of electrical power.

The control device employed in the present -invention comprises an interval timer of any type capable of measuring the time interval desired, which is set into operation by van external switch and which, after being set into operation, completesits .cycle independently of the `external switch. The control device also includes switching means effective to open the solenoid valve controlling the llow of liquid immediately when the control device goes into operation, to simultaneously close a hold circuit, deactivating the external switch, and to close the said solenoid valve at the end of the desired time interval. The interval timer is preferably of a conventional electronic type, employing one or more vacuum tubes and/ or transistors, suitably Electronic Timer type 30HLl, marketed by Photoswitch Division of Electronics Corporation of America. The structural features embodied in the type SGHLI timer are disclosed -in the P. J. Cade Patent 2,574,618 of November 13, 1-951. Alternatively, it can be a conventional pneumatic or hydraulic type, operating by controlled flow of `fluid through an orifice. Or it can comprise a motor-actuated series of rotating contacts or cams, suitably adjustable to measure the desired time interval. Numerous variants will be readily apparent.

Y The present invention is adapted to the controlled dispensing of any type of liquid substance, so long as it does not deleteriously aect the component parts of the apparatus, and so long as it is suiiiciently fluid to be dispensed at a substantially constant rate of flow through a spray nozzle, oriice, tube, nipple, or other discharge means. Suitable liquids include water, salt brine, aqueous monosodium glutamate solutions, solutions of ascorbic acid, isoascorbic acid, sodium bisullte, sodium benzoate, and the like; soy sauce and other flavoring and seasoning extracts (e.g., vanilla); ethyl alcohol; and others, too numerous to mention. The device is especially advantageous for dispensing many of these substances in that it minimizes contact of the liquid with air, thereby to a large extent avoiding any adverse effect by the oxidizing action of the oxygen in the air.

While the invention has been described by reference to a specic embodiment thereof, illustrated in the drawing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many ymodifications can be `made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The following claim particularly points out and .distinctly claims the subject matter of the invention:

Apparatus for dispensing predetermined increments of liquid into containers moved on a conveyor in succession past a dispensing station comprising a liquid spray nozzle, means for mounting said nozzle to overlie the con veyor for discharge of liquid into containers moved past the dispensing station, conduit means for supplying liquid at substantially constant pressure to said nozzle, a solenoid valve in said conduit means and operable to control ow of liquid to said nozzle, an initiating switch having an actuating element for operating said switch, means for mounting said initiating switch with said actuating element ,mounted to be engaged by containers moving on the conveyor past the dispensing station, a control circuit including said initiating switch and operable to open said solenoid val-ve for a predetermined time interval initiated by a -rst operation of said switch, interval timing means interconnected in said control circuit to be initiated by said tirst operation o f said initiating switch, s aid interval timing means once initiated by said iirst operation of said switch being interconnected in said control circuit to override contro1 of said solenoid valve by said switch lin the absence of operations of s aid switch occur-,ring subsequent to Vsaid predetermined time interval and thus maintain Said sleneid valve geen `fur .univ one said predetermined time interval responsive only to said -irst operation of said switch whereby the irst operation of said initiating switch caused by initial engagement with a container is eiiective to initiate Ja predetermined time interval of liquid discharge and repeated operations of said switch during such interval lor holding of said switch in the first operated condition will not lengthen said predetermined time interval or initiate a second predetermined tirne interval.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

